Opinion category, Page 231
David Conrad: What The Kiski School has lost
If you’ve heard the word Kiski, it’s usually followed by the word “Area,” or if you’re lucky enough to have spent some time in a kayak or a canoe, perhaps you know it as the lovely river that starts in Saltsburg where the Conemaugh and the Loyalhanna join to run...
Commentary: Food inflation is a hardship outside the Fed’s control
It’s nearly impossible to have a conversation about inflation without mentioning food prices. And no wonder, as they are up 24% since the start of the pandemic and account for one-sixth of the increase in consumer prices overall. After the recent monetary policy meeting, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said...
Bradford Fitch: What really are ‘special interests’ in Washington — and how they influence Congress
It’s no secret that Congress is not held in high esteem by the American people. Much of the blame for dysfunction in Washington, and our system of government, is directed at so-called “special interest groups.” About 70% of Americans polled in a national survey said that “Congress works for the...
Michael Reagan: House Republicans need to grow up
OK, my fellow Republicans, you got rid of Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Eight of you joined with every Democrat in the House of Representatives — the only part of the federal government we control — to vote McCarthy out, 216-210. In the process you threw the House into chaos, killed any...
Kim Cross: How Polly Klaas’ kidnapping and murder 30 years ago changed crime and punishment in America
When 12-year-old Polly Klaas was kidnapped by a stranger from her Northern California home on Oct. 1, 1993, the efforts to find her drew worldwide attention. When Polly’s body was found 64 nights after her abduction, the outpouring of grief in her hometown and beyond was overwhelming. Why had Polly’s...
Letter to the editor: Eliminate Constitution? Ask Trump about that …
I read with amusement all the unfounded information packed into the letter “What’s next, Democrats?” (Sept. 28, TribLIVE). That was two diatribe rants that week, “Had enough of Democrats yet?” (Sept. 26, TribLIVE) being the first. But there’s one thing that puzzles me … At the end, the writer asked,...
Letter to the editor: Honor the American flag
Regarding the letter “Flags fly in support of Biden” (Sept. 24, TribLIVE): I heartily disagree. My American flag — flown each day and night (lighted) — is the symbol of our free republic. The flag is more important than any personality and is raised over multitudes of our foreign embassies...
Editorial: Why aren’t America’s students showing up?
Nearly four years into America’s learning-loss crisis, perhaps the biggest challenge facing the country’s schools is a basic one: getting students to show up. Rates of absenteeism have surged since the start of the pandemic, across nearly all regions, income levels and age groups. School leaders need to act now...
Letter to the editor: Hunting in Pittsburgh parks inhumane, problematic
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey has opened Frick and Riverside parks for bow hunting (“Deer hunting to begin in 2 Pittsburgh parks,” Sept. 29, TribLIVE). City solicitor Krysia Kubiak said, “city officials do not think it (hunting) will infringe upon people’s enjoyment of the parks.” But she suggested that “It’s a...
Editorial cartoons for the week of Oct. 9
Editorial cartoons for the week of Oct. 9....
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Oct. 9
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Oct. 9....
Harry Litman: Here’s the real reason Trump didn’t try to move the Georgia prosecution to federal court
What should we make of Donald Trump’s surprising recent decision not to try moving Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ case against him to federal court? Most observers, including me, had anticipated that Trump would attempt to get the case out of the Georgia court, and not simply because it’s...
Letter to the editor: Unions help workers keep up with inflation
The one constant of economic life is inflation. Prices go up. Always. There was a time when wages went up with them. But that was when most U.S. workers were represented by unions. Because of inflation, potatoes aren’t still a nickel a pound. Because of unions, you’re not still making...
Letter to the editor: Careful with those spotted lanternflies
So I’m sitting at a five-way intersection in Pittsburgh waiting for the light to go green when I look out the side window and see a gentleman stomping around in a wide circle. It dawns on me he is eradicating, or trying to deal with, the spotted lanternfly invasion. Finally,...
Editorial: Why are there so many death penalty cases in Washington County?
Washington County has about 210,000 residents. It is 18th in population among Pennsylvania counties. It has a million fewer people than neighboring Allegheny County. Of the 98 people sentenced to death in the Keystone State, 19 were convicted in Philadelphia, seven in Allegheny and five in Westmoreland. But if a...
Letter to the editor: Congress should get priorities straight
In past government shutdowns, after passing a budget, Congress has always passed retroactive pay for both government workers required to work through the shutdown and furloughed employees. Although it is a concerning temporary disruption in normal pay cycles and is a serious family household budget concern, it is essentially a...
Joseph Sabino Mistick: We should honor, not disparage, America’s best
When it comes to being a real American patriot, Donald Trump would not make a patch on the seat of Gen. Mark Milley’s pants. But that didn’t stop Trump from recently suggesting that the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff committed a “treasonous act” by assuring his Chinese...
Gary Franks: Debate lessons to be learned from Ronald Reagan
The Republican candidates for president were at the Ronald Reagan Library in California last week for a debate. One candidate promoted himself well, like Reagan, and remembered the former president’s trademark: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any Republican.” And for those two reasons, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis comes out...
André O. Hudson: Tenacious curiosity in the lab can lead to a Nobel Prize
The 2023 Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine will go to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their discovery that modifying mRNA — a form of genetic material your body uses to produce proteins — could reduce unwanted inflammatory responses and allow it to be delivered into cells. While the...
Jason C. Mueller: Despite one of U.S. military’s greatest fiascoes, American troops still in Somalia fighting an endless war
Thirty years after the infamous Battle of Mogadishu, the U.S. military is still conducting operations in Somalia. Popularized in the U.S. by the 2001 film “Black Hawk Down,” the Battle of Mogadishu occurred on Oct. 3, 1993, and saw the downing of two U.S. helicopters and the deaths of 18...
Letter to the editor: Help Native Americans, vets first
Why is our government worried about taking care of illegal immigrants who are coming here from everywhere? Our top priority should be to the Native Americans who have always lived here. They get very little help from our government. Also, what about our veterans, so many of whom are homeless?...
Sounding off: American flag, next president, Fetterman, homeless among week’s topics
Flag flies for U.S. and defenders of freedom We fly the American flag all year long, not to show support for President Biden as the writer of the letter “Flags fly in support of Biden” (Sept. 24, TribLIVE) alleges, but for the United States of America and to show our...
Letter to editor: Grateful for anonymous generosity
When I went to pay for my tires this week at Highland Tire in Natrona Heights, the salesperson said the $315 bill was already paid. I don’t know who paid it, but I appreciate it. I have heard of people paying for someone’s lunch, but never for tires. Peggy Booher...
Letter to the editor: Look past party, gender, skin color for next president
Why can’t people keep their personal opinions personal? I don’t care what your opinions are about politics, religion, sexual preference or spaghetti sauce. We’ve had three years of Trump/Biden bashing, and I for one am sick of it. It’s probably time to start looking at who might actually be a...
Editorial: Sadly, vigilance in schools is still needed in wake of recent gun-related incidents
“We shouldn’t have to do this in school,” Christina Burke said. “We should feel safe enough to come here and not have to deal with that.” — — — The Hempfield Area High School senior is correct. Students should be able to show up at school and feel safe. Their...
